UN Global Compact Network Bangladesh celebrates Sustainability Day 2023

The United Nations Global Compact Network Bangladesh (GCNB) on Wednesday (Nov 15) celebrated Sustainability Day 2023 at the Hotel Lakeshore in Dhaka, emphasising Anti-Corruption Collective Action (ACCA).

This was done through a symposium to Advance Integrity through Collective Action in line with the Tenth Principle of the United Nations Global Compact: “Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms,” according to a press release.

The symposium united diverse sectors, including government, private businesses, civil society, academia, and international stakeholders from Global Compact Local Networks (India, Indonesia, Malaysia & Brunei, Kenya).

Prominent figures like Mr Farooq Sobhan (Network Representative, GCNB), Ms Cristina Ritter (Head of Governance & Anti-Corruption, UN Global Compact), Dr Iftekhar Zaman (Executive Director, Transparency International Bangladesh), and Ms Alexandra Berg von Linde (Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh) highlighted corruption's impact and advocated for ‘collective action’ towards a more ethical society.

As the chief guest, Mr Muhammad Abdul Mannan MP, Honorable Minister of Planning, unveiled two reports: The Global Compact Network Bangladesh Annual Report and the United Nations Global Compact Regional Report titled Uniting Against Corruption: Regional Perspectives on Collective Action.

The first of two panel discussions of the day were an Industry Panel Discussion: Linking Business Integrity & Sustainability: The added-value of collective action.

Speakers included professionals and practitioners from different sectors with representation from Agro and Retail (Mr Kazi Inam Ahmed – Director, GEMCON Group), Apparel (Mr Mohammed Zahidullah - Chief Sustainability Officer, DBL Group), Finance (Ms Afreen Huda - Chief HR Officer, IDLC Finance) and Telecommunications (Ms Farhana Islam Teresa – Head of Social Impact, Grameenphone). The moderator for the session was Mr Md. Mazedul Islam – Development Coordination Officer of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.

International speakers participated in the second Panel Discussion on Regional Perspectives on Collective Action Against Corruption with representatives from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Brazil.

The Symposium concluded with an engaging debate between students of Independent University Bangladesh (IUB) and the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), where IUB emerged as the winner.

Ms Shahamin S Zaman, Executive Director of United Nations Global Compact Network Bangladesh, closed the event, emphasising the need for stakeholders to unite for collective action and participate in the United Nations Global Compact Working Groups.